Commissioning mechanism for wireless lighting groups

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for creating functional lighting groups. The apparatus includes one or more wireless devices and a commissioning device. The one or more wireless devices are coupled together via a line voltage, and are configured to enter a grouping mode responsive to commands sent over a wireless network, and are configured to send messages over the wireless network indicating that they have been power cycled via the line voltage. The commissioning device is coupled to the one or more wireless devices over the wireless network, and is configured to send the commands, and is configured to receive the messages, and is configured to create a functional lighting group comprising the one or more wireless devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of the following U.S. patentapplication, each of which is herein incorporated by reference for allintents and purposes.

SERIAL FILING NUMBER DATE TITLE 15479067 Apr. 4, 2017 SYSTEM FORAUTONOMOUS COMMISSIONING (FBQ.1011) AND HARVESTING OF FUNCTIONALWIRELESS LIGHTING GROUPS

This application is related to the following U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplications, each of which has a common assignee and common inventors.

SERIAL FILING NUMBER DATE TITLE 14876340 Oct. 6, 2015 APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR CREATING (FBQ.1009) FUNCTIONAL WIRELESS LIGHTING GROUPS15419232 Jan. 30, 2017 COMMISSIONING MECHANISM FOR CREATING(FBQ.1009-C1) FUNCTIONAL WIRELESS LIGHTING GROUPS 15419288 Jan. 30, 2017GROUPING OF WIRELESS DEVICES DURING (FBQ.1009-C2) COMMISSIONING — —MULTIMODE SWITCH FOR COMMISSIONING OF (FBQ.1011-C1 FUNCTIONAL WIRELESSLIGHTING GROUPS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to the field building automation, andmore particularly to a system for identifying, locating, grouping, anddescribing a plurality of wireless devices whose identities, locations,and functional groupings are unknown.

Description of the Related Art

Present day building lighting systems are generally controlled via wiredinterfaces, and these systems may be either monitored or unmonitored. Asone skilled in the art will appreciate, there is substantial momentum toconvert these wired lighting systems over to more efficient wirelesslighting systems that allow for wireless control and management ofdevices therein. Although inventive concepts presented herein may beapplied to a diverse number of wired/wireless devices and systems, forclarity purposes this disclosure will be presented in terms of anexemplary building comprising a plurality of light fixtures, along withassociated switches, occupancy sensors, daylight harvesters, and otherassociated building automation devices. The building may be undergoingenergy efficiency improvements through the installation of wirelessradios in each of the light fixtures, wireless switches, wirelesssensors, and wireless controls, to allow for more efficient use ofelectrical power.

The present inventors have observed that when a present day wirelessnetwork is created, in order to configure the network of devices forproper operation, determination of the devices' locations and functionalgroupings is mandatory. But present day techniques for identifying,locating, and grouping devices require that unknown devices beidentified and located one device at a time, which is incredibly laborintensive, time consuming, and error prone.

When converting a system of wired devices into a controllable network ofwireless devices, the process described above must be accomplished sothat wireless controls and sensors throughout the building areconfigured to interoperate with each of the functional groups of devicesin substantially the same manner as their wired controls and sensorsthat are being replaced. That is, the wireless network needs to beconfigured so that, say, a wireless on/off switch in a particular officearea only controls the light fixtures therein, and does not controladditional light fixtures down the hall or in other parts of thebuilding.

Furthermore, the labor associated with locating and grouping devicesinto functional groups is also substantial, even with accurate floorplans, the labor required to perform these tasks is steep and expensiveand because of intensive human involvement, the process is prone toerror.

Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus and method for identifying,locating, functionally grouping, and describing a plurality of devicesin a wireless network that exhibits a substantial reduction in errorover that which has heretofore been provided.

What is also needed is a technique for creating functional groups ofdevices in a wireless network.

What is furthermore needed is a mechanism for creating functional groupsof wireless devices that does not require the wireless devices to beidentified and located one at a time.

What is moreover needed is an autonomous system for creating functionalgroups of wireless devices that does not require the wireless devices tobe identified and located one at a time.

What is additionally needed is a system for simultaneously creating anddescribing functional groups of heretofore unknown wireless deviceswhich can be performed by one or more technicians.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, among other applications, is directed to solvingthe above-noted problems and addresses other problems, disadvantages,and limitations of the prior art by providing a superior technique foreasily creating functional lighting groups in buildings.

In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for creating functionallighting groups. The apparatus includes one or more wireless devices anda commissioning device. The one or more wireless devices are coupledtogether via a line voltage, and are configured to enter a grouping moderesponsive to commands sent over a wireless network, and are configuredto send messages over the wireless network indicating that they havebeen power cycled via the line voltage. The commissioning device iscoupled to the one or more wireless devices over the wireless network,and is configured to send the commands, and is configured to receive themessages, and is configured to create a functional lighting groupcomprising the one or more wireless devices.

One aspect of the present invention contemplates an apparatus forcreating functional lighting groups. The apparatus includes one or morewireless devices, a commissioning device, and a multimode wirelessswitch. The one or more wireless devices are coupled together via a linevoltage, and are configured to enter a grouping mode responsive tocommands sent over a wireless network, and are configured to sendmessages over the wireless network indicating that they have been powercycled via the line voltage. The commissioning device is coupled to theone or more wireless devices over the wireless network, and isconfigured to send the commands, and is configured to receive themessages, and is configured to create a functional lighting groupcomprising the one or more wireless devices. The multimode wirelessswitch is coupled to the line voltage, and is configured to enter thegrouping mode responsive the commands, and is configured to switch theline voltage off and then back on.

Another aspect of the present invention comprehends a method forcreating functional lighting groups. The method includes coupling one ormore wireless devices together via a line voltage, where the one or morewireless devices enter a grouping mode responsive to commands sent overa wireless network, and where the one or more wireless devices sendmessages over the wireless network indicating that they have been powercycled via the line voltage; and via a commissioning device, sending thecommands, receiving the messages, creating a functional lighting groupcomprising the one or more wireless devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary present day buildinglayout of wired lighting fixtures;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an autonomous system forcommissioning and harvesting functional groups of wireless devices;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram featuring a method according to the presentinvention for autonomously commissioning and harvesting functionalgroups of wireless devices; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram highlighting a multimode wireless switchaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary and illustrative embodiments of the invention are describedbelow. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actualimplementation are described in this specification, for those skilled inthe art will appreciate that in the development of any such actualembodiment, numerous implementation specific decisions are made toachieve specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness related constraints, which vary from one implementation toanother. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that such a developmenteffort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be aroutine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having thebenefit of this disclosure. Various modifications to the preferredembodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments.Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments shown and described herein, but is to be accordedthe widest scope consistent with the principles and novel featuresherein disclosed.

The present invention will now be described with reference to theattached figures. Various structures, systems, and devices areschematically depicted in the drawings for purposes of explanation onlyand so as to not obscure the present invention with details that arewell known to those skilled in the art. Nevertheless, the attacheddrawings are included to describe and explain illustrative examples ofthe present invention. The words and phrases used herein should beunderstood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with theunderstanding of those words and phrases by those skilled in therelevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase (i.e., adefinition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning asunderstood by those skilled in the art) is intended to be implied byconsistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a termor phrase is intended to have a special meaning (i.e., a meaning otherthan that understood by skilled artisans) such a special definition willbe expressly set forth in the specification in a definitional mannerthat directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for theterm or phrase.

In view of the above background discussion on building lightingmanagement and associated techniques employed for identifying andgrouping related devices in a wireless network configuration, adiscussion of the disadvantages and limitations of these techniques willbe presented with reference to FIG. 1. Following this, a discussion ofthe present invention will be presented with reference to FIGS. 2-4. Thepresent invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of presentday techniques by providing an apparatus and method for creatingfunctional lighting groups which minimizes configuration error.

Turning to FIG. 1, a block diagram is presented illustrating anexemplary building layout 100 of wired lighting fixtures 102, 112. Thebuilding layout 100 includes two areas 110, 120 separated by a wall 130having a door 131 disposed therein. Such is exemplary of many presentday buildings. Area A 110 has a plurality of light fixtures 102 poweredby a common circuit 105. Line power 111 is applied to the common circuit105 through a wired switch 103 within Area A 110. Likewise, Area B 120has a plurality of light fixtures 112 powered by a common circuit 115.Line power 111 is applied to Area B's common circuit 115 through a wiredswitch 113 within Area B 120 and wired lighting dynamically controlledby a sensor 114, such as, but not limited to, an occupancy sensor,daylight harvester, etc.

A building or structure, such as is exemplified in the building layout100, may be segregated into physical areas and logical areas (alsoreferred to herein as a “logical group” or “functional group”). Thephysical areas are depicted in FIG. 1 as Area A 110 and Area B 120,which are physically separate, as in indicated by the wall 130. Theareas 110, 120 may consist of individual office spaces having only onelogical area (i.e., an area where light fixtures 102, 112 (also referredto herein as “luminaires”) therein are controlled by correspondingswitches 103, 113 and sensors 114). Alternatively, a given physical area110, 120 may comprise a plurality of logical areas. Furthermore, alogical area may span a plurality of physical areas. A physical area110, 120 may have one or more sensors 114 that are employed to modifythe light output of such groups 102, 112, such as sensor 114 is depictedfor control of the plurality of light fixtures (also referred to hereinas “luminaire group”) 112 in Area B 120. In both areas 110, 120, each ofthe luminaire groups 102, 112 are controlled and powered via commoncircuits (or, “infrastructure”) 105, 115 that supply power and controlto the groups of luminaires 102, 112. Switch 103 controls the luminairegroup 102 in Area A 110, and both switch 113 and the sensor 114 controlthe luminaire group 112 in Area B 120.

As is alluded to above, a building owner/occupier may opt toreplace/upgrade their present wired lighting configuration, such as isshown in the exemplary building layout 100 of FIG. 1, with an energyefficient and controllable configuration, where light fixtures, sensors,and controls are upgraded to include wireless networking capabilities.And the present inventors have observed that when a present day wirelessnetwork is created, identifying information (e.g., network ID, MAC ID,EUI 64, etc.) of corresponding physical devices, their locationsrelative to each other, and how subsets of these physical devices arefunctionally grouped together cannot be easily nor economicallydetermined. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, while absolutelocations (e.g., their GPS coordinates) of these devices may be desired,in order to configure the network of devices for proper operation,determination of the devices' relative locations and functionalgroupings is mandatory.

Present day techniques for identifying, locating, and grouping devicestypically require that unknown devices be identified and locatedserially, namely, one device at a time. In other words, a first deviceis revealed and its identification and location are recorded, typicallyon a floor plan or building notation log (e.g., “fluorescent lampfixture, MAC ID XXX, 2^(nd) floor conference room northern end”). Then,a second device is revealed, identified, located, and recorded. Thisserial process continues, until a last device has been identified,located, and recorded.

Many different techniques are employed to reveal devices in order todetermine their identities and relative locations. Depending upon devicetype within the wireless network, these techniques may include, but arenot limited to, shining lights, scanning bar codes, pushing buttons,power cycling, emitting sounds, etc. Once all of the devices have beenidentified and located, then subsets of the devices are placed intofunctional working groups. In many present day configurations, thisplacement is achieved via some form of computer interface through whichan operator interprets the floor plan or building notation log in orderto create each of the functional working groups. Grouping creates setsof devices that act logically as one subsystem.

For instance, in the case of a retrofitted building full of lightfixtures, a given office area, like Area A 100 or Area B 120 of FIG. 1,may have four wireless-enabled light fixtures, two wireless occupancysensors, and one wireless on/off switch. The switch and sensors operateto exclusively control the light fixtures within the given office area.That is, switches and sensors in other areas of the building do notcontrol the fixtures in the given office area, nor do the sensors andswitch within the given office area operate to control light fixtures inother areas of the building. Thus, the four light fixtures, the switch,and the sensors form a logical (or, “functional”) group within the givenoffice area.

When converting a system of wired devices into a controllable network ofwireless devices, the process described above must be accomplished sothat wireless controls and wireless sensors throughout the building areconfigured to interoperate within their corresponding functional groupsin substantially the same manner as their wired controls and sensorsthat are being replaced. That is, the wireless network needs to beconfigured so that, say, a wireless on/off switch in a particular officearea only controls the light fixtures within its logical group, and doesnot control additional light fixtures down the hall or in other parts ofthe building that belong to other logical groups.

The present inventors have noted that present day techniques foridentifying, locating, and recording devices is disadvantageous at bestsince only one device at a time can be processed. In order to identify,locate, and record a plurality of devices, each device must be processedin a serial manner, that is, one device after another. Consequently,extensive time and labor are required to identify and group a networkthat includes the plurality of devices, which is quite costly from aninstallation perspective. If a particular process requires humanintervention (e.g., to read a label, scan a bar code, shine a light, orpush a button), then the probability of human error is increased alongwith the labor cost to remedy errors that are thereby introduced. Inaddition, the action of reading a label, scanning a bar code, shining alight, or pushing a button may be prohibitively expensive and timeconsuming. Consider the labor associated with accessing ceiling mounteddevices to push a button, or accessing devices that have transducers,electronics, or labels that are internal to the devices. In some cases,the devices may require disassembly in order to reveal the transducers,electronics, or labels. In a building consisting of hundreds of lightfixtures, the costs associated with this process are substantial.

Furthermore, the present inventors have noted that the labor associatedwith locating and grouping devices into functional groups is alsosubstantial, for even with accurate floor plans, the labor required toperform these tasks is steep. Without accurate floor plans, the locationand notation steps are additionally prone to imprecision, for presentday techniques rely predominantly on human interpretation of the userinterface and upon human technicians to derive the proper functionalworking groups.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,560,727 discloses an apparatus and method for creatingfunction wireless lighting groups, which employs legacy line voltageswitches to create the functional wireless lighting groups. When placedin a commissioning and grouping mode by a controller device, wirelesslight fixtures are configured to indicate to the controller device viawireless messages when they are power cycled. Accordingly, as atechnician cycles power to first wireless light fixtures via acorresponding legacy line voltage switch, the wireless light fixturesindicate to the controller device that they have been power cycled, andthe controller device designates all the first wireless lightingfixtures as being part of a first functional group. The technician moveson to a second legacy line voltage switch, toggles power to secondwireless light fixtures, and the second wireless light fixtures areassigned to a second function group. And so on.

After all the legacy line voltage switches have been power cycles andall functional groups designated, the legacy line voltage switches mustbe replaced by wireless switches for each of the functional groups. Thewireless switches are each commissioned onto the network and then areassociated via the controlling device with their correspondingfunctional lighting group.

The present inventors have observed that the apparatus and methoddisclosed in the above-noted U.S. patent is limiting in that multiplesteps are required to retrofit a building with wireless lightingfixtures, controls, and sensors. First, all the buildings light fixturesmust be replaced with wireless light fixtures, leaving all the legacyline voltage switches in place. Next, the wireless light fixtures arecommissioned onto the network and their functional groups are identifiedand assigned, as described above. Next, the legacy line voltage switchesare replaced with wireless switches, and the wireless switches areassociated with their corresponding functional lighting group. It isnoted that to replace the legacy line voltage switches with wirelessswitches requires that line power to shut off, as is required toretrofit the legacy lighting fixtures with the wireless lightingfixture. Consequently, an electrician must be available both before andafter creation of the functional lighting groups. And as one skilled inthe art will appreciate, there may be a substantial time gap in-betweenwhile a technician (not an electrician) executes the functional lightgrouping steps, which results in unnecessary expense and inefficiency.

The present invention overcomes the above-noted disadvantages andlimitations, and others, by utilizing a novel multimode wireless switch,as will be described in further detail below, which is configured tooperate as a legacy line voltage switch, and/or a wireless lightingfixture switch. The multimode wireless switches according to the presentinvention are retrofitted into the building in place of the legacy linevoltage switches at the same time as the legacy light fixtures areretrofitted with wireless lighting fixtures.

The multimode wireless switches are configured to enter a legacy linevoltage switch mode prior to entering a commissioning mode, thusenabling the wireless light fixtures to be controlled manually as with alegacy line voltage switch until a technician is scheduled to commissionthe wireless light fixtures and create functional lighting groups. Themultimode wireless switches are moreover configured to enter one of twocommissioning modes when so directed by a commissioning device: anautonomous commissioning mode or a commission and describe mode. In anautonomous commissioning mode, each multimode wireless switch in afacility identifies itself to the commissioning device and, upondirection from the controlling device, cycles power to its correspondingwireless light fixtures (which have also been placed into acommissioning mode). The wireless light fixtures respond to thecontrolling device that they have been power cycled, and the controllingdevice creates a functional lighting group that includes both thefixtures, connected sensors, and their corresponding multimode wirelessswitch. As each functional lighting group is created, the controllerthen places the corresponding multimode wireless switch into a wirelessoperation, mode, whereby the corresponding multimode wireless switch nolonger switches line voltage, but rather sends wireless commands tocontrol each of its associated wireless lighting fixtures and sensorswithin its functional lighting group. Advantageously, by utilizingmultimode wireless switches according to the present invention, anelectrician is only required once to retrofit the entire building withwireless light fixtures, sensors, and multimode switches. Followingthis, a technician may be scheduled to perform the autonomouscommissioning and functional grouping step, or the autonomouscommissioning and functional grouping step may be performed remotelyover the Internet or other communication channel via known techniques.

For the commission and describe mode, the building is first retrofittedwith wireless light fixtures, sensors, and multimode switches accordingto the present invention. Via the commissioning device, a technician maysubsequently place the system in the commission and describe mode, wherethe multimode wireless switch is configured to switch line voltage toits corresponding wireless fixtures upon mechanical actuation by thetechnician, while simultaneously providing unique identifyinginformation to the controller device. When the technician mechanicallyactuates the multimode wireless switch, the multimode wireless switchsends a wireless message to the commissioning device indicating that itis to be placed in a functional group with the corresponding lightfixtures and connected sensors. In addition, the multimode wirelessswitch switches line voltage to the corresponding wireless lightfixtures. Upon cycling of the line voltage, the corresponding wirelesslighting fixtures respond to the commissioning device, and thecommissioning device creates a functional lighting group comprising thecorresponding wireless lighting fixtures, connected sensors, and themultimode wireless switch. The technician then enters descriptiveinformation that is associated with the newly created functionallighting group, such as “5^(th) Floor, Southwest Corner Office,”“10^(th) Floor Men's Restroom,” “Executive Conference Room,” etc. Afterthe descriptive information is entered, either directly into thecommissioning device or by remote communication mechanisms, thecommissioning device then directs the multimode wireless switch to enterinto the wireless switch mode, as is described above. The presentinvention will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 2-4.

Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram is presented depicting an apparatusaccording to the present invention for creating functional wirelesslighting groups. The diagram shows an exemplary upgraded building layout200, very much like the building layout 100 of FIG. 1. The buildinglayout 200 includes two areas 210, 220 separated by a wall 130 having adoor 131 disposed therein. Area A 210 has a plurality of wireless lightfixtures 203-206 which replaces a corresponding plurality of wired lightfixtures (not shown), and which are powered by a common circuit 105,formerly used to power the wired light fixtures. Line power 111 isapplied to the common circuit 105 through multimode wireless switch 208operating in legacy switch mode as described above within Area A 210.Accordingly, the light fixtures 203-206 are intended to form a logicalgroup 202. Area A 210 also includes a wireless sensor 207, such as, butnot limited to, a wireless occupancy sensor, a wireless daylightharvester, etc. Likewise, Area B 220 has a plurality of light fixtures213-216 which replaces a corresponding plurality of wired light fixtures(not shown), and which are powered by a common circuit 115, formerlyused to power the wired light fixtures. Line power 111 is applied toArea B's common circuit 115 through a multimode wireless switch 218operating in legacy switch mode within Area B 220. Accordingly, thelight fixtures 213-216 are intended to form a logical group 212. Area B220 also includes a wireless sensor 217, such as, but not limited to, awireless occupancy sensor, a wireless daylight harvester, etc. Themultimode wireless switches 208, 218 and wireless sensors 207, 217 areintended for control and/or management of the wireless luminaires203-206, 213-216 within their respective logical groups 202, 212.

Like the building layout 100 of FIG. 1, the layout 200 according to thepresent invention may be segregated into physical areas 210, 220 andfunctional groups. The physical areas are depicted in FIG. 2 as Area A210 and Area B 220, which are physically separate, as in indicated bythe wall 130. The physical areas 210, 120 may consist of individualoffice spaces having only one logical area. Alternatively, a givenphysical area 210, 220 may comprise a plurality of logical areas.Furthermore, a logical area may span a plurality of physical areas 210,220. A physical area 210, 220 may have one or more multimode wirelessswitches 208, 218 and wireless sensors 207, 217 that are employed tomodify the light output of wireless luminaire groups 202, 212. In bothareas 210, 220, when the multimode wireless switches 208, 218 operate inthe legacy switch (default) mode, each of the wireless luminaire groups202, 112 are controlled and powered via existing infrastructure 105, 115that supplies power and control to the groups of luminaires 202, 212,and that formerly supplied power to wired light fixtures replaced in theupgrade. Switch 208 controls power to luminaire group 202 in Area A 210when mechanically actuated, and switch 218 controls power to luminairegroup 212 in Area B 220 when mechanically actuated.

Once commissioned onto the network, wireless switch 208 and wirelesssensor 207 are intended to control lighting in group 202 via wirelesscommands. Wireless switch 218 and wireless sensor 217 are intended tocontrol lighting in group 212 via wireless commands. Control of lightingmay include, but is not limited to, on/off, luminous intensity level,color, and special effects (e.g., strobe, flash frequency, etc.). Lightsources within the wireless lighting fixtures 203-206, 213-216 mayinclude, but are not limited to, fluorescent bulbs, light-emittingdiodes, and other sources of controllable light in both the visible andinfrared spectrums.

The layout 200 also includes a gateway device 240 that is coupled to theinternet 250 (or other wide area network). The gateway device 240 mayprovide for wireless interconnectivity of the wireless lighting fixtures203-206, 213-216, the wireless switches 208, 218, the wireless sensors207, 217, and a wireless commissioning device 242. The gateway 240provides for wireless interoperability between the wireless devices203-208, 213-218, the commissioning device 242, and the gateway 240itself by configuring a wireless network consisting of a plurality ofwireless links 243 over which the devices 203-208, 213-218, thecommissioning device 242, and the gateway 240 communicate. The wirelessnetwork enables communication and control of devices 203-208, 213-218and on an individual and/or group basis, by both the commissioningdevice 242 and the gateway 240.

For purposes of the present application, the term “gateway” 240 will beemployed to mean all the devices and software (e.g., access points,Internet gateways, coordinators, etc.) that are required to provide forcommunication with all the wireless devices 203-208, 213-218, as well ascommunication via the Internet cloud 250, cellular network (not shown)or other form of wide area network (not shown), such as is required forcommunication and cloud based management and control.

In one embodiment, the gateway 240 and commissioning device 242 areseparate devices. In another embodiment, the gateway 240 andcommissioning device 242 combined into a single device such as, but notlimited to, a smartphone (e.g., IPHONE®, ANDROID® phone), a tabletcomputer (e.g., IPAD®, etc.), or a wirelessly enabled laptop computer.

Advantageously, the present invention employs a coordinated exploitationof the existing infrastructure 105, 115 for a legacy wired system ofdevices (not shown) to enable identification, locating, and recording offunctional groups of corresponding wireless devices 203-208, 213-218 ina manner that is superior to that which has heretofore been provided.The commissioning device 242 may communicate with the internet 250directly and may access a cloud-based server (not shown) for wirelessnetwork configuration support. Alternatively, the commissioning device242 may communicate with the gateway 240 directly and the gateway maycommunicate with the internet 250. The commissioning device 242 may beemployed by a technician to control the wireless devices 203-208,213-218 and the gateway 240.

In operation, all the wireless luminaires 203-206, 213-216 and sensors207, 217 are physically installed and powered up. As the multimodewireless switches 208, 218 initialize in the legacy switch mode, powerswitching of the legacy power lines is provided for by mechanicalactuation of the multimode wireless switches 208, 218. Though thewireless luminaires 203-206, 213-216, sensors 207, 217, and multimodewireless switches 208, 218 are not yet commissioned within a wirelessnetwork, they are however powered on and are communicating over thewireless network over the links 243 as the wireless network executes adiscovery phase.

Thus, all wireless devices 203-208, 213-218, 240, 242 are communicatingon the wireless network over the links 243, but the locations andgroupings of the luminaires 203-206, 213-216, sensors 207, 217, andmultimode wireless switches 208, 218 are unknown. For clarity sake, onlya small number of luminaires 203-206, 213-216 and sensors 207, 217 areshown in the layout 200, however, one skilled in the art will appreciatethat a typical building under which the present invention may bepracticed may comprise hundreds of luminaires, multimode switches, andsensors divided into a functional lighting groups according to buildinglighting requirements.

A key feature of the present invention is that the switch legs of theexisting infrastructure 105, 115 are employed to reveal both theidentity and functional grouping of the luminaires 203-206, 213-216.This is because the multimode wireless switches 208, 218 are alreadywired to, and grouped with, their corresponding luminaires 203-206,213-216 via the existing infrastructure 105, 115. Thus, the presentinvention contemplates utilization of legacy line voltage switching viathe multimode wireless switches 208, 218 to identify and commissiontheir respective luminaires 203-206, 213-216 and connected sensors 207,217, and to assign the wireless devices 203-208, 213-218 to functionalgroups. After functional grouping is complete, the multimode wirelessswitches 208, 218 are commanded to enter the wireless operating mode, asdescribed above, whereby their respective luminaires 203-206, 213-216are controlled and managed via wireless commands over the network. Aconnected sensor 207, 217 is one which may be powered by or controlledby the luminaires 203-206, 213-216 themselves, or which is integral tothe luminaires 203-206, 213-216. Sensors 207, 217 that are not connectedare those which must be commissioned and functionally grouped apart fromcommissioning and harvesting of the luminaires 203-206, 213-216.

The commissioning device 242 may comprise one or more applicationprograms executing thereon, dedicated circuitry, or a combination ofapplication programs and dedicated circuitry to communicate with thegateway 240 and to command the wireless devices 203-208, 213-218 toenter the commissioning/functional grouping mode. The wireless devices203-208, 213-218 and the gateway 240 may comprise one or moreapplication programs executing thereon, dedicated circuitry, or acombination of application programs and dedicated circuitry tocommunicate with the gateway 240 and to perform commissioning/functionalgrouping mode functions as will be described below.

In one embodiment, a technician may execute a function on the handhelddevice 242, or may remotely (via the internet 250) inform the gateway240 to enter the autonomous mode. In response, the gateway 240 willcommand the wireless devices 203-208, 213-218 to enter the autonomousmode. Each multimode wireless switch 208, 218 in the facility is knownduring discovery phase during formation of the wireless network. In theautonomous mode, a first multimode wireless switch 208, 218 in thefacility is selected, either by the technician via 242 or randomlyselected via an application program executing either on the gatewaydevice 240 (or on an offsite server (not shown) accessed via theinternet 250). Next, the first wireless switch 208, 218 is directed viaa wireless message to cycle line voltage to its corresponding wirelesslight fixtures 203-206, 213-216 (which have also been placed into acommissioning mode). The wireless light fixtures 203-206, 213-216respond to the controlling device 242 that they have been power cycled,and the controlling device 242 creates a functional lighting group thatincludes both the fixtures 203-206, 213-216, connected sensors 207, 217,and their corresponding multimode wireless switch 208, 218. As eachfunctional lighting group is created, the commissioning device 242 thenplaces the corresponding multimode wireless switch 242 into a wirelessoperation mode, whereby the corresponding multimode wireless switch 208,218 no longer switches line voltage, but rather sends wireless commandsto control each of its associated wireless lighting fixtures 203-206,213-216 within its functional lighting group. After the first wirelessswitch 208, 218, connected sensors 207, 217, and corresponding wirelesslight fixtures 203-206, 213-216 have been functionally grouped andplaced into the wireless operation mode, a next wireless switch 208, 218is selected for functional grouping. And so on, until all the wirelessswitches 208, 218 have been functionally grouped. As is noted above, theautonomous commissioning and functional grouping step may be performedremotely over the internet 250 or other communication channel via knowntechniques.

In a commission and describe embodiment, a technician may enter one ofthe areas 210, 220 and may instruct the gateway 240 via the handhelddevice 242 that a new functional group is to be formed. Consider thatthe technician entered Area A 210. The technician will then cycle theline voltage power 111 by mechanically actuating multimode wirelessswitch 208. All wireless luminaires 203-206 that are wired to the legacyswitch leg through the multimode wireless switch 208 will have theirpower turned off and then back on. On power up, the wireless luminaires203-206 will function normally. Additionally, since the luminaires203-206 and the multimode wireless switch 208 are in commission anddescribe mode, the luminaires 203-206 will notify the gateway 240 thatthey have been powered cycled while in this mode via respective messagestransmitted over the links 243. The gateway 240 will thus record theseluminaires 203-206 as a newly formed group 202 which is associated withmultimode wireless switch 208 and sensor 207 (if connected), includingall corresponding identifying information (e.g., MAC address,manufacturer, device type, version, etc.). Following formation of thenew group 202, the technician may then enter descriptive informationthat is associated with the newly created functional lighting group 202,such as “5^(th) Floor, Southwest Corner Office,” “10^(th) Floor Men'sRestroom,” “Executive Conference Room,” etc. After the descriptiveinformation is entered, either directly into the commissioning device242 or by remote communication mechanisms, the commissioning device 242then directs the multimode wireless switch 208 to enter into thewireless switch mode, as is described above.

Continuing formation of the functional group, the technician thenactivates a commissioning control (e.g., push button, toggle switch,etc.) on any unconnected sensors 207 that are to be employed foradditional control of luminaires 203-206 within the group 202, whichwill inform the gateway 240 that the wireless sensors 207 has had acommissioning control activated while in grouping mode, and the gateway240 will thus associate these unconnected wireless sensors 207 with thenewly created group 202 to allow for additional control of theluminaires 203-206. Once all the devices 203-208 are grouped, thetechnician then instructs the gateway 240 that association of devices203-208 within the group 202 is complete.

The technician may then move on to the next area 220 and will follow thesame procedure described above to form a next functional group 212comprising grouped luminaires 213-216, connected and unconnected sensors217, and wireless switch 218.

One advantage of the present invention is that the gateway 240 mayautonomously commission and harvest functional groupings for retrofittedlighting or, in the commission and describe mode, the technician maycommission and harvest groupings of the wireless devices 203-208,213-218 in any order of functional groups. That is, devices 203-208 maybe commissioned and harvested before or after commissioning andharvesting devices 213-218.

The present invention also contemplates the use of multiplecommissioning devices 242 by multiple technicians working in the samebuilding at the same time to create functional groups simultaneously. Toenable this feature, the gateway 240 will employ time stamp, timeseries, and/or time delta analyses on messages received in order toproperly bin detected events and groups. In addition, or alternatively,the commissioning devices 242 can communicate and coordinate with eachother in order to facilitate orderly grouping of events.

Having determined the devices' relative locations and functionalgroupings, and thereby configuring the network of devices for properoperation, the present invention additionally enables more fine-grainedidentification and location of individual devices 203-208, 213-218, ifdesired. Because groups of devices 203-208, 213-218 within a buildingare inherently smaller in number and more manageable than the set of alldevices in the building, coordinated operations such as flashing aluminaire within a specific group and noting its relative physicallocation within the group on a user interface are enabled. This notationmay include the use of captured images of a ceiling grid along withluminaires 203-206, 213-216 and sensors 207, 217 disposed therein inorder to enhance the relative and absolute location device metadata. Inone embodiment, the functions for such fine-grained identification andlocation may be disposed within applications programs within thecommissioning device 242.

Although the devices 203-208, 213-218 according to the present inventionare described above as having dedicated hardware/software disposedtherein to enable them to enter and perform functions associated withthe functional grouping mode, other embodiments are contemplated aswell. For example, certain wireless networks configurations may beconfigured to send information back to the gateway 240 when stimulated(e.g., a button has been pushed, a device is powering up, toggled,etc.). Accordingly, the gateway 240 for such embodiments may beconfigured to uniquely interpret these communications in order toidentify and group the devices 203-208, 213-218.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flow diagram 300 is presented of a method forautonomously creating functional lighting groups according to thepresent invention.

Flow begins at block 302 where a building that had been retrofitted withwireless luminaires, multimode wireless switches, and sensors is inpowered up state. In addition, a wireless network has been formed andall wireless devices 203-208, 213-218 have been identified duringdiscovery phase of the wireless network. Such identification includes,but is not limited to, unique identifier (e.g., MAC address, etc.) anddevice type (e.g., switch type, light type and capabilities, sensor typeand capabilities, etc.). Flow then proceeds to block 304.

At block 304, all the wireless devices are placed into an autonomouscommissioning and functional group harvesting mode via gateway andcommissioning device messages over a wireless network. Flow thenproceeds to block 306.

At block 306, formation of a new functional group is initiated viacommands implemented over a commissioning device. Flow then proceeds toblock 308.

At block 308, a wireless switch is commanded via the commissioningdevice over the wireless network to cycle legacy line voltage to itscorresponding wireless luminaires. Flow then proceeds to block 310.

At block 310, wireless luminaires that have been power cycled via theaction in block 308 inform the gateway of their identifying informationand that they have been power cycled while in autonomous mode. Thegateway then groups the power cycled wireless devices, connectedsensors, and wireless switch into the new functional group. Flow thenproceeds to block 312.

At decision block 312, an evaluation is made to determine if allfunctional groups within the building have been created. If not, thenflow proceeds to block 306. If so, then flow proceeds to block 314.

At block 318, the method completes, allowing commissioning ofunconnected wireless sensors within the building.

One advantage of present invention is that it may be employed toefficiently derive functional lighting groups from existinginfrastructure, thus eliminating the need to rely upon serial processesand human interpretation, thereby minimizing mistakes and saving timeand labor. Devices can be identified and a functional wireless networkof the devices can be created with labor that has minimal training andknowledge of networks.

Another advantage of the present invention is that multiple devices canbe identified and grouped simultaneously in a robust and reliablemanner.

The gateway according to the present invention logically groups specificphysical wireless devices together to function as one or more functionallighting groups. Via one or more commissioning devices, technicians mayrecord the relative location of the functional lighting group (andthereby of the individual devices)—with or without the aid of anexisting floor plan. These relative locations may be determined afterautonomous commissioning and harvesting, or they may be entered as partof the commission and describe mode of system operation. For example,functional lighting groups are typically associated with well-knownlandmarks such as “CEO Office” or “2^(nd) Floor Conference Room North.”Accordingly, it is noted that the present invention creates highlyaccurate functional lighting groups by deriving those groups fromexisting infrastructure. Thus, the process of functional grouping doesnot rely nor depend on the absolute accuracy of geo-location for each ofthe devices in the network. This is a substantial improvement overpresent day identification, location, and recording mechanisms, whichare particularly frail because they are highly dependent upon devicelocation information to create a functional group.

Now turning to FIG. 4, a block diagram is presented of a multimodewireless switch 400 according to the present invention. The switch 400may be employed in any of the embodiments discussed above with referenceto FIGS. 2-3. The switch 400 includes a switch controller 401 that iscoupled to a mechanical actuator 402 via a STATE POWER bus and a STATEbus. The switch controller 401 is also coupled to a wireless transceiver403 via a COMM bus. The switch controller 401 is further coupled to aline voltage switch 404 via an ENABLE bus. The line voltage switch 404receives a line voltage such as line power 111 in FIG. 2 over bus LINEIN and provides switching of the line voltage to a load side, forpowering of associated wireless luminaires (not shown) via bus LINE OUT.The line voltage switch 404 may comprise electrical elements (e.g.,semiconductor switches, etc.), mechanical elements (e.g., levers,actuators, etc.), or electromechanical elements (e.g., relays,solenoids, etc.).

In operation, the switch controller 401 is configured to transmit andreceive wireless messages over a wireless network 243 according to awireless protocol (e.g., Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.4, ZIGBEE®,Z-WAVE®, BLUETOOTH®, etc.) chosen for the embodiment. The messages maybe between the switch 400 and a gateway 240, between the switch 400 anda commissioning device 242, or between the switch 400 and the associatedwireless luminaires. In one embodiment, control (e.g., ON, OFF, dimming,light color, etc.) of the associated wireless luminaires is provided forby wireless messages generated by the gateway 240. In anotherembodiment, control of the associated wireless luminaires is providedfor by wireless messages generated by the switch 400 operating underwireless operating rules provided by the gateway 240. In yet anotherembodiment, control of the associated wireless luminaires is providedfor by wireless messages generated by both the switch 400 and thegateway 240. Accordingly, in a wireless operating mode, the switchcontroller 401 may assert STATE POWER and then sense the state (e.g.,open or closed, level of dimming selected, light color, etc.) of theactuator 402 over bus STATE. According to chosen embodiment, the switchcontroller 401 may either transmit messages to the gateway 240indicating state of the actuator 402, or may transmit control messagesto the associated wireless luminaires to control their operation. In allmodes of operation, when state of the mechanical actuator 402 is changed(e.g., toggled, pressed, different knob position, etc.), the switchcontroller 401 is configured to transmit messages over the network, viathe wireless transceiver 403, indicating state change.

The mechanical actuator 402 may comprise any well-known elements of apresent day light switch, dimmer, or selector knob, with additionalelements (if required) to couple to STATE POWER and STATE.

In a legacy line voltage switch mode, the switch controller 401 may beconfigured to direct the line voltage switch 404 to provide line voltageto the associated wireless luminaires over LINE OUT. When ENABLE is notasserted, the line voltage switch 404 does not provide line voltage tothe associated wireless luminaires. When ENABLE is asserted, the linevoltage switch 404 provides line voltage to the associated wirelessluminaires. In this mode, the switch controller 401 may sense the stateof the mechanical actuator 402 via STATE and may assert ENABLE whenSTATE indicates that the actuator 402 is in an “ON” state, and may notassert ENABLE when STATE indicates that the actuator 402 is in an “OFF”state. The multimode wireless switch 400 may also be configured to enterthe legacy line voltage switch mode as a default mode prior to beingcommissioned onto the wireless network, thus advantageously allowing forcontrol of its associated wireless luminaires via sensing state of theactuator 402.

When placed in either the autonomous mode or the commission and describemode, the switch controller 401 will assert ENABLE, thus powering on itsassociated luminaires to allow for discovery and commissioning. While inthese two modes, the multimode wireless switch 400 will not function asa legacy line voltage switch and will only switch line voltage to theassociated luminaires when directed to do so by the commissioningdevices 240, 242. In autonomous mode, the switch 400 is directed toswitch line voltage via wireless message. In commission and describemode, the switch 400 is directed via wireless message to enable legacyline voltage switching responsive to actuation of the mechanicalactuator 402.

The switch controller 401 may be further configured to broadcastidentifying information (e.g., unique network ID, device function,switch type, etc.) for capture by the commissioning device 242 (orgateway 240), or may be configured to begin broadcasting the identifyinginformation responsive to broadcasted commissioning messages receivedfrom the commissioning device 242 (or gateway 240).

Upon receipt of a message directing that the switch 400 performautonomous harvesting of its associated wireless luminaires, thecontroller 401 may be configured to de-assert ENABLE for a prescribedtime period, and then assert ENABLE, thus removing line voltage from theassociated wireless luminaires for the prescribed time period, wherebythe associated wireless luminaires transmit wireless messages to thecommissioning device 242 (or gateway 240) indicating they have beenpower cycled. Accordingly, the system may then create a functionallighting group comprising the switch 400 and associated wirelessluminaires. Following this, the switch 400 may be also configured toreceive identifying information and functional group designation for allof the associated wireless luminaires. Thereafter, the controller 401may de-assert ENABLE and may subsequently control one or more of theassociated wireless luminaires via wireless messages using theidentifying information corresponding to the one or more of theassociated wireless luminaires.

Upon receipt of a message directing that the switch 400 performcommission and describe harvesting of its associated wirelessluminaires, the controller 401 may be configured to de-assert ENABLE andthen monitor STATE to detect when a technician toggles the mechanicalactuator 402. The controller 401 may then assert/de-assert ENABLEaccording to the state of the actuator 402 until the switch 400 receiveswireless messages from the commissioning device 242 (or gateway 240)providing identifying information and functional group designation forall the associated wireless luminaires. Thereafter, the controller 401may de-assert ENABLE and may subsequently control one or more of theassociated wireless luminaires via wireless messages using theidentifying information corresponding to the one or more of theassociated wireless luminaires.

The multimode wireless switch 400 according to the present invention isconfigured to perform the functions and operations as discussed above.The multimode wireless switch 400 may comprise logic, circuits, devices,or microcode (i.e., micro instructions or native instructions), or acombination of logic, circuits, devices, or microcode, or equivalentelements that are employed to execute the functions and operationsaccording to the present invention as noted. The elements employed toaccomplish these operations and functions within the multimode wirelessswitch 400 may be shared with other circuits, microcode, etc., that areemployed to perform other functions and/or operations within multimodewireless switch 400. According to the scope of the present application,microcode is a term employed to refer to a plurality of microinstructions. A micro instruction (also referred to as a nativeinstruction) is an instruction at the level that a unit executes. Forexample, micro instructions are directly executed by a reducedinstruction set computer (RISC) microprocessor. For a complexinstruction set computer (CISC) microprocessor, complex instructions aretranslated by elements within the CISC microprocessor into associatedmicro instructions, and the associated micro instructions are directlyexecuted by a unit or units within the CISC microprocessor.

The embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, and those skilledin the art will appreciate that they can readily use the disclosedconception and specific embodiments as a basis for designing ormodifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of thepresent invention, and that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of theinvention as set forth by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for creating functional lightinggroups, the apparatus comprising: one or more wireless devices coupledtogether via a line voltage, configured to enter a grouping moderesponsive to commands sent over a wireless network, and configured tosend messages over said wireless network indicating that they have beenpower cycled via said line voltage; and a commissioning device, coupledto said one or more wireless devices over said wireless network,configured to send said commands, and configured to receive saidmessages, and configured to create a functional lighting groupcomprising said one or more wireless devices.
 2. The apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein said commissioning device comprises one ormore application programs executing thereon.
 3. The apparatus as recitedin claim 1, wherein said commissioning device comprises a laptopcomputer.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein saidcommissioning device comprises a tablet computer.
 5. The apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein said commissioning device comprises asmartphone.
 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein saidcommands direct that said line voltage be autonomously switched off andthen back on.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein saidcommands direct that said line voltage be manually switched off and thenback on.
 8. An apparatus for creating functional lighting groups, theapparatus comprising: one or more wireless devices coupled together viaa line voltage, configured to enter a grouping mode responsive tocommands sent over a wireless network, and configured to send messagesover said wireless network indicating that they have been power cycledvia said line voltage; a commissioning device, coupled to said one ormore wireless devices over said wireless network, configured to sendsaid commands, and configured to receive said messages, and configuredto create a functional lighting group comprising said one or morewireless devices; and a multimode wireless switch, coupled to said linevoltage, configured to enter said grouping mode responsive saidcommands, and configured to switch said line voltage off and then backon.
 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said commissioningdevice comprises one or more application programs executing thereon. 10.The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said commissioning devicecomprises a laptop computer.
 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8,wherein said commissioning device comprises a tablet computer.
 12. Theapparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said commissioning devicecomprises a smartphone.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, whereinsaid commands direct that said multimode wireless switch autonomouslyswitch said line voltage off and then back on.
 14. The apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein said commands direct that said line voltagebe manually switched off and then back on via said multimode wirelessswitch.
 15. A method for creating functional lighting groups, the methodcomprising: coupling one or more wireless devices together via a linevoltage, wherein the one or more wireless devices enter a grouping moderesponsive to commands sent over a wireless network, and wherein the oneor more wireless devices send messages over the wireless networkindicating that they have been power cycled via the line voltage; andvia a commissioning device, sending the commands, receiving themessages, creating a functional lighting group comprising the one ormore wireless devices.
 16. The method as recited in claim 15, whereinthe commissioning device comprises one or more application programsexecuting thereon.
 17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein thecommissioning device comprises a tablet computer.
 18. The method asrecited in claim 15, wherein the commissioning device comprises asmartphone.
 19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the commandsdirect that the line voltage be autonomously switched off and then backon.
 20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the commands directthat the line voltage be manually switched off and then back on.